Okapis (Okapia johnstoni) are small (only five feet high), short-necked relatives of the giraffes with similar skin-covered horns and a long tongue. They are cud-chewing mammals. Their coloring is like plum, the sides of the neck reddish, the upper parts of the legs are barred like a zebra. They live in the dense forests of the Congo. Unknown until 1901, Okapis are still very rare in zoos.

Okapis are shy, nocturnal animals that live alone or in pairs. They browse on leaves in the forest. In captivity, the female will come into heat almost every 40 days. The young are born after a gestation period of about 425 days. The mother will nurse her young for about three to four months.

In the past, three different companies made plush Okapis, but now all these stuffed animals are retired. You can still find some at online retailers. Jeannie's Cottage carries one from Wild Republic that was introduced in 2006. Check the Gift Shop to see if there are any in stock. The companies that made them are: Wild Republic (left pair), Aurora (center) and Cooperstown Bears (Zoology 101).

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